What is Art Therapy?                                                                                          

Art Therapy is the therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, which offers opportunities for individuals to explore personal problems and potentials through non verbal expressions.  Through creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes, people can increase awareness of self and others, cope with symptoms, stress, traumatic experiences, enhance cognitive abilities, and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art. (AATA, 2002)

I use Art Therapy only when clinically appropriate and only when the client wishes to use it in their therapeutic process.  You do not have to be an artist to participate in art therapy, only the willingness to try.
 

Reasons to use Art Therapy:                                                                              

• If you have a hard time talking about feelings or traumatic experiences
• Feel flooded or out of control with anxiety, grief, or depression
• Feel stuck or hopeless
• If you do not like therapy that requires you to sit and talk for 50 minutes
• Wish you could express yourself, but just don't have the words that fit